MICHAEL OWEN maintains scoring goals is the least of his problems as England prepare for their make-or-break European Championship qualifying clash with Estonia on Wednesday night.

The Newcastle striker, who was sidelined by a knee injury that required major surgery for most of last season, is relieved just to pull on an England shirt again.

It's a year since Owen scored a goal at any level of football but the former Liverpool and Real Madrid star refuses to pile pressure on himself by setting targets for his marksmanship.

"I'm not too concerned about my game," said Owen.

"I've been out a long time and I'm just happy to pull on the shirt and be out there playing again.

"And I don't mind if people just judge me on scoring goals - that's probably best for me because that's one thing that doesn't worry me.

"The one thing I will always do is score goals. The most important thing right now is preparing for a crucial match on Wednesday night.

"And don't have any doubts, the lads are always up for important games. I don't think any national team has the bit between their teeth like our lads.

"They take a lot of stick at times and at times unfairly. But no one can criticise the heart the team has. If anything, the lads try too hard.

"But we obviously need a big result in Estonia. We know we need to win and if we do win it will be a great result.

"But people will inevitably point to their poor record. They have failed to take a point or score a goal in the group but I think they can defend because they only seem to lose games 1-0 or 2-0 even against the big guns.

"We know it's going to be very difficult. They are obviously going to try just to defend and we have seen it before, we've been involved in these types of games and it's not easy to break them down.

"If we get an early goal, which is important, that would be great because we might be able to win by more than one goal. If we don't I'm afraid it's going to be like most games. The sooner people understand that the better because if we don't score it could get edgy."

Owen is feeling no ill effects from the knee injury sustained during England's World Cup campaign last summer. While other players look jaded after a long, hard season, he would prefer to just keep playing.

"The knee is fine," he said. "I've had plenty of time to test it since I came back for Newcastle in the Premiership. I'm getting used to the pace of the game but in general I feel fine.

"Because of the injury I would like the season to continue. I've only just started playing again and I've got great energy and enthusiasm.

"A lot of players are looking forward to their holidays after a long season but that hasn't been the case for me."